Customer Accessible Lint Filter

ABSTRACT

A lint filter assembly (40) for a household appliance (10) has a housing (42) that couples with duct work (38) of the appliance (10). A lint catcher (44) is receivable in the housing (42). The lint catcher (44) collects lint as it is moved through the duct work (38). A mechanism (90) is coupled with the lint catcher (44) so that a user pushes the lint catcher (44) into the housing (42) for a first filtering position. The lint catcher (44) is positively locked in place by the mechanism (90). The lint catcher (44) is moved to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the lint catcher (44).

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to household appliances, generally thoseincluding a dryer and, more particularly, an accessible lint filter.

BACKGROUND

In household appliances, such as washers and dryers, it is desirable toremove lint during operating cycles from these machines. Particularly,in dryers, a lint screen or the like is present to catch the lint as itcirculates within the drying appliance during operating cycles.Different types of lint screens have been provided by manufacturers.These types of screens are ones that are accessible upon opening thedoor of the dryer and those that can be removed from outside of thecabinet enabling withdrawal of the lint screen for cleaning. These typesof lint screens are satisfactory for their intended purposes. However,designers strive to improve the art.

The present disclosure provides the art with a lint filter assembly thatis positively held within the cabinet. The lint filter assembly providesan easily removable lint filter assembly with a positive action tomaintain the lint filter assembly within the cabinet. The action may bemechanically or magnetic. The lint filter assembly provides a lid thatenables easy removal of the lint from the filter. Additionally, theassembly provides a utility space for various items such as pods, dryersheets, brushes or the like.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an object of the disclosure to provide a lint filterassembly for a household appliance comprising a housing for couplingwith duct work of the appliance. A filter assembly is receivable in thehousing. The filter assembly collects lint as is moved through the ductwork. A mechanism is coupled with the filter assembly so that a userpushes the filter assembly into the housing into a first position wherethe filter assembly is positively locked and retained by the mechanism.The filter assembly is moved to a second clean out position, releasingthe positive lock so that lint can be removed from the lint filterassembly. The mechanism may be a push/push mechanism including a grablatch or a magnetic latch. Alternatively, the mechanism is a magneticseal position on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filterassembly in the first position. The filter assembly includes a coverwith the magnetic seal for locking with a cabinet. The lint filterassembly includes a catch with a frame with a screen where the frame istwo piece with a bowl and a cover. The bowl or cover includes a metalpiece and the other includes a magnet. The bowl and cover are co-molded.Additionally, the cover or lid includes a lint peeler. The frame alsoincludes a storage area for various items.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a household applianceincluding a dryer function and comprises a cabinet with a rotatable drumand a drying circuit. The drying circuit includes duct work that directsheating air through the drum within the cabinet. A lint filter assemblycomprising a housing that couples with the duct work of the appliance. Afilter assembly is receivable in the housing. The filter assemblycollects lint as is moved through the duct work. A mechanism is coupledwith the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly intoa housing into the first position where the filter assembly ispositively locked and retained by the mechanism. The filter assembly ismoved to a second clean out position, releasing the positive lock sothat lint can be removed from the lint filter assembly. The mechanismmay be a push/push mechanism including a grab latch or a magnetic latch.Alternatively, the mechanism is a magnetic seal position on the filterassembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the firstposition. The filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic sealfor locking with a cabinet. The lint filter assembly includes a catchwith a frame with a screen where the frame is two piece with a bowl anda cover. The bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includesa magnet. The bowl and cover are co-molded. Additionally, the cover orlid includes a lint peeler. The frame also includes a storage area forvarious items.

According to a third aspect of the disclosure, a household applianceincluding a dryer function comprises a cabinet with a rotatable drum anda drying circuit. The drying circuit includes duct work that directsheating air through the drum within the cabinet. A lint filter assemblycomprising a housing that couples with the duct work of the appliance. Afilter assembly is receivable in the housing. The filter assemblycollects lint as is moved through the duct work. A mechanism is coupledwith the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly intothe housing into a first position where the filter assembly ispositively locked and retained by the mechanism. The filter assembly ismoved to a second clean out position, releasing the positive lock sothat lint can be removed from the lint filter assembly. The mechanismmay be a push/push mechanism including a grab latch or a magnetic latch.Alternatively, the mechanism is a magnetic seal position on the filterassembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the firstposition. The filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic sealfor locking with a cabinet. The lint filter assembly includes a catchwith a frame with a screen where the frame is two piece with a bowl anda cover. The bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includesa magnet. The bowl and cover are co-molded. Additionally, the cover orlid includes a lint peeler. The frame also includes a storage area forvarious items.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective breakaway view of a washer/dryer in accordancewith the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lint catcher.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lint catcher.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view through FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the lint filter assembly.

FIG. 5B is a cross-section view through FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mechanical latch.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a magnetic latch.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the lintcatcher.

FIG. 8B is a cross-section view of FIG. 8A along line 8B-8B.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lint catcher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

Turning to the figures, a combination washer/dryer machine isillustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. Thecombination washer/dryer machine 10 includes a cabinet 12 with aplurality of panels 14. The controller panel 20 is illustrated on thefront panel 16 of the cabinet 12. The combination washer/dryer 10includes a tub 30 and a drum 32 rotatably positioned inside of the tub30. A washing circuit 34 is coupled with the tub 30. Additionally, adrying circuit 36 is illustrated coupled with the tub 30. Thus, heatedair is moved into the drum 32 and exited to ambient surrounding throughthe desired duct work 38.

A lint filter assembly 40 is positioned into the heating duct work 38.The lint filter assembly 40 includes a housing 42 that is positionedinto and coupled with the duct work 38. The housing 42 receives a lintcatcher 44. The lint catcher 44 includes a frame 46 that has a two piecedesign with a bowl 48 and a lid or cover 50. As illustrated, the catcher44 has an overall rectangular trapezoidal design for sliding into thehousing 42. The bowl 48 includes wall 52 that surrounds a lattice work54 that includes a screen 56. The wall 52 includes an opening 58 thatabuts a portion of the duct so that the housing 42 receives heated airfrom the tube 30. The heated air enters into the lint catcher 44, wherethe lint is retained in the lint catcher 44, then exits through thehousing 42 to ambient.

The lid 50 includes lattice work 62 and a screen 64. The lid 50 ishinged to the bowl 48 to enable the lid 50 to be moved away from thebowl 48 to enable access into the catcher 44 to remove the lint. Thus,the lint can be removed from the bowl 48 and lid 50.

The bowl 48 and lid 50 are manufactured from a plastic material.Preferably, a metallic strip 66 is co-molded into the lid 50. Magnets 68are likewise co-molded into the bowl wall 52 to enable a magneticclosure between the lid 50 and the bowl 48. Thus, this retains the lid50 onto the bowl 48 when it is positioned inside of the housing 42.Additionally, the magnets 68 and metallic strips 66 could be positionedinto the other element.

A cover is 70 positioned onto a front portion of the wall 52 of the lintcatcher 44. The cover 70 is accessible from outside of the cabinet 12.This enables the lint catcher 44 to be withdrawn from the housing 42.The cover 70 includes a handle 72 or opening that enables the user tograsp the cover 70 and remove the lint catcher 44 from the housing 42.

Turning to FIG. 3 , the cover 70 is illustrated with a seal 80. The seal80 includes an attachment portion 82, a bulb portion 84 and a pocket 86to retain a magnetic strip 88. The attachment portion 82 is secured intothe cover 70 via a channel in the cover 70. The bulb portion 84 providesmovement of the cover 70 when the magnetic strip 88 contact the cabinet12. The bulb portion 84 could have a different cross-section dependingupon the desired fit of the seal 80 on the cover 70. The magnetic strip88 provides a positive retention or locking force of the lint filterassembly 40 in the cabinet 12.

Turning to FIGS. 5-7 , an additional mechanism 90 is illustrated toretain the lint catcher 44 within the housing 42. The mechanism 90 canbe a mechanical push/push grab latch device or a magnetic push/pushlatching device.'

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , a mechanical latching device is illustrated.Here, the base 92, attached to the housing 42, includes fingers 94 thatreceive a ball 96 attached to the catcher 44. As the ball 96 is pushedinto the fingers 94, the fingers 94 retract in the base 92. The fingers94 are held in the base 92 with the ball 96. Thus, the catcher 44 isretained or locked with the housing 42.

An additional push on the cover 70, in turn, pushes the ball into thebase 92. This releases the fingers 94 from within the base which, inturn, releases the ball 96 from the fingers 94. Thus, this enables thecatcher 44 to be withdrawn from the cabinet 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates a magnetic push-push device. The magnetic device 100has a base 102 with a movable shaft 104. A metallic striker plate 106would be positioned onto the catcher 44. As the lint catcher 44 ispushed into the housing 42, the shaft 104 would retract into the base102 mounted on the housing 42. The magnet 108 would retain the strikerplate 106 on the device 100. As the cover 30 is pushed in, the shaft isreleased from the base 100 to enable the lint catcher 44 to be withdrawnfrom the housing 42 and cabinet 12.

FIGS. 8 and 8A illustrate an additional catcher 44′. The catcher of FIG.8 is substantially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 2 except for theaddition of one or more lint peelers 110. The lint peelers 110 arepositioned adjacent the bottom near the lattice work 54 of the bowl 48.The peelers 110 may have an overall rectangular configuration and bering shaped or solid. The peelers 110, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, as thelid 50 is opened, moves underneath the lint 112 to lift the lint fromthe bowl 48 lattice work 54 and screen 56. Thus, the lint 112 is scrapedfrom the lattice work 54 and screen 52 to provide a lifted leading edgeto enable removal of the lint 112 from the bowl 48.

Turning to FIG. 9 , an additional catcher 44 is illustrated. Here, astorage bin 120 is positioned between the frame 46 and the cover 70. Thestorage bin 120 enables detergent pods, dryer sheets, brushes or thelike to be stored within the dryer in the bin 120. Upon removal of thecatcher 44, the storage bin 120 would be accessible. Thus, a user wouldhave access to the items in the bin 120. The storage bin 120 can have abox-like configuration with a cover 122 to enable access into thestorage bin 120.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lint filter assembly for a household appliancecomprising: a housing for coupling with duct work of the appliance; afilter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assemblycollecting lint as it is moved through the duct work; a mechanismcoupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filterassembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a firstlint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked inplace by the mechanism and the filter assembly is removed from thehousing to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, sothat lint can be removed from the filter assembly.
 2. The lint filterassembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanismincluding a grab latch device.
 3. The lint filter assembly of claim 1,wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a magneticlatch device.
 4. The lint filter assembly of claim 1, wherein themechanism is a magnetic seal positioned on the filter assembly formagnetically locking the filter assembly in the first lint catchingposition.
 5. The lint filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the filterassembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal, the magnetic seallocking with a cabinet.
 6. The lint filter assembly of claim 1, whereinthe filter assembly includes a frame with a screen for catching thelint.
 7. The lint filter assembly of claim 6, wherein the frame is twopiece with a bowl and cover lid.
 8. The lint filter assembly of claim 7,wherein in the bowl or cover lid includes a metal piece and the otherincludes a magnet.
 9. The lint filter assembly of claim 8, wherein thebowl and cover are co-molded.
 10. The lint filter assembly of claim 7,wherein the cover lid includes a lint peeler.
 11. The lint filterassembly of claim 6, wherein the frame includes a storage bin.
 12. Ahousehold appliance including a dryer function comprising: a cabinetwith a rotatably drum and a drying circuit, the drying circuit includingduct work that directs heating air through the cabinet; and a housingcouples with the duct work; a filter assembly receivable in the housing,the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the ductwork; a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushesthe filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assemblyin a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positivelylocked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is removed fromthe cabinet to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock,so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly.
 13. The householdappliance including a dryer function of claim 12, wherein the mechanismis a push/push mechanism including a grab latch device or a magneticlatch.
 14. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim12, wherein the mechanism is a magnetic seal positioned on the filterassembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first lintcatching position.
 15. The household appliance including a dryerfunction of claim 14, wherein the filter assembly includes a cover withthe magnetic seal, the magnetic seal locking with the cabinet.
 16. Thehousehold appliance including a dryer function of claim 12, wherein thefilter assembly includes a frame with a screen for catching the lint,the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover lid.
 17. The householdappliance including a dryer function of claim 16, wherein the bowl andcover are co-molded and the bowl or cover lid includes a metal piece andthe other includes a magnet.
 18. The household appliance including adryer function of claim 16, wherein the cover includes a lint peeler.19. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 16,wherein the frame includes a storage bin.
 20. A household applianceincluding a dryer function comprising: a cabinet with a rotatable drumand a drying circuit, the drying circuit including duct work thatdirects heating air through the cabinet; and a housing coupled with theduct work; a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filterassembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work; amechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes thefilter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in afirst lint catching position and the filter assembly is positivelylocked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is moved to asecond cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint canbe removed from the filter assembly; the filter assembly includes aframe with a screw for catching the lint. the frame is two piece with abowl and cover. the bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the otherincludes a magnet; the blow and cover are co-molded; the cover includesa lint peeler; and the frame includes a storage area.